A four-team trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers is “very close” to happening and could be agreed upon Friday, league sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

The teams involved include Lakers, Magic, Nuggets and 76ers. There are a lot of scenarios flying around out there, but the primary framework of the deal has Howard and Al Harrington going to the Lakers; Pau Gasol and Arron Afflalo end up in Orlando; Andre Iguodala lands with the Nuggets; and Andrew Bynum becomes a member of the 76ers.

Except that ESPN’s Ric Bucher is reporting that Pau Gasol is not part of the deal being discussed. Which is to say there are a lot of scenarios being discussed, and that’s not a sign that things are imminent.

There are plenty of other signs that this deal is not that close. Among those are reports that as of a few hours a go the agents for Bynum and Horford had not been contacted. In the case of Bynum, who would be an unrestricted free agent after next season, you can bet there will be some feeling out to see if he would sign on to stay past the end of his deal in whatever city he was shipped to.

Still, things seem to be discussions and things moving forward a little.

Of course, we’ve been here before — remember that three-team deal with the Cavaliers and Lakers that was close? Exactly.

“We have very specific goals as to what we would hope to achieve if we were to trade Dwight, OK?” said Martins…. “We acknowledge and are realistic about the fact that you’re never going to get equal value in return for Dwight Howard. But if we were to trade him, we have three primary goals that we’re trying to achieve and in the end, any deal that’s proposed to us I think we’ve been very clear about the fact about the goals of what we’re trying to achieve.

“We have never delineated from that. Some may think that we have, but we have not. Clearly, when we find the right combination of pieces that we’re looking for in return, that will determine whether we make a deal or not.”

Does this deal really sound like they are getting everything they want? Pau Gasol (who would be flipped in another trade probably near the deadline) and Arron Afflalo, plus some picks and parts?

We can have a discussion of whether or not they can really reach all their goals — teams are not making huge offers now and James Dolan isn’t coming in to boost the offer at the last minute. You can argue that the deals are not going to get better for Orlando. Sure, they would love young players and picks and to get rid of Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu, but asking for all of it may be too much.

There is a real deadline out there, but it is not until the trade deadline in February. It’s not that soon.

Orlando’s management really care how sick of the Tilt-A-Whirl you are, they are going to keep the ride going until they get what they want and choose to get off. On their terms.

Lakers are usually the team that gets the other team to make a bad deal not the ones making it. Bynum/Pau for Dwight and Harrington please veto that Stern. I would be shocked if it goes down the way its being reported if it goes down at all.

Get it done, get it done!!! I’d love it if the LAKERS can keep Pau, HOWEVER, if they do trade both bigs it won’t only be for Howard and Harrington. When the dust settles the Buss family will have the LAKERS positioned to win now and after Kobe/Nash retire.

Terrible deal for Magic. The Brooklyn deal was better and that was also a terrible deal. If it goes through(which it probably won’t), it will be interesting to see what bad contracts they rid themselves of and what picks they receive in return. I have always thought Houston had the most to offer but it seems like Mitch Kupchack plays mind voodoo games with other GMs.

so just cause the Sixers are stacked with tall athletic swingmen still doesn’t make sense to give away player.This is how the Lakers find these suckers

dennisund - Aug 9, 2012 at 10:01 PM

Giving away his contract is more like it. 6ers fans don’t discredit Iguodala as a player, he is a very good support player, one of the best. Unfortunately, he’s paid like a superstar and is the keystone to keeping the team mired in mediocrity. They’ve been trying to trade him for years. Getting Bynum would be a huge bonus.

This deal is sweet for the sixers if they land Bynum. They can team him up with Turner, Holiday and the rest of the young guys (2 this year, Vucevic, Allen, etc etc), and try to sign him to an extension and let them grow together. If not, you dump Iggy’s horendous contract, still have the young core mentioned above, and now have a ton of cap space with the Brand/Iggy contracts off the books.

This is only not a good deal for the sixers if you are a big fan of the current “stay good enough to not be terrible” plan is going to lead to a title. It isn’t. The sixers have to rebuild, they have the pieces to make it happen fast if they work it correctly. Or they have the pieces to make it take 10 years if they do it incorrectly. The first step is moving Iggy’s contract. If you can get Bynum back for it, that is a GREAT value. There is no trade, anywhere, for Iggy and his contract that is going to bring you back better than Bynum

It’s easy to get rid of his contract, give him away for a low pick and someone would snatch him up. But that won’t happen cause the sixers want more than just getting rid of his contract. I still say Bynum must commit before I make that deal

No low first round teams can just eat his salary, so, no, they wouldn’t snatch him up, unless the sixers took trash back.
Even if Bynum doesn’t commit, name me another deal even close in value. If he doesn’t, and it gets to the deadline, you are going to get more for a 22 year old potnetially dominant big man than you are for a 26 year old proven good but not great player, but a mile. It’s a win-win scenario for the sixers

manchestermiracle - Aug 10, 2012 at 1:26 AM

Guys, once again: When a player’s contract expires (he doesn’t sign an extension) the team he is with can offer him more years and more money than any other team. This is why Howard will re-sign with the Lakers (after his contract expires next year) and Bynum will do the same with the 76ers. They only become unrestricted free agents in name only. No pro is stupid enough to walk away from a max contract

They get what they want because they are smart & have kept the biggest asset out there in Andrew Bynum! They’ve held onto him for 7 years for a reason. There’s no way the deal we’ve been hearing is the trade either. Just doesn’t make sense for any team other than Philly. Not to mention to trade for Bynum everyone knows it will take more than Iguodala to land him. Lakers are the only team left to trade Howard for, which means the Magic don’t have enough leverage to command the Lakers to give Gasol & Bynum up

No way should the lakers trade both bigs for Howard and Harrington. Stand pat or push for a deal that lands Iguodala in LA too. This almost works in NBA trade machine just need a 500k more worked off from Phillys cap.

Why would the sixers do that? It does nothing to help them. It gives them a declining PF, that will leave them exactly where they are now (just good enough to be not terrible), and a headcase, with a terrible contract that has proven again and again he has no interest on playing on anything but a top level team.

Strange that a sixers fan (assuming from the eagles sn) would come up with a trade that bad for the sixers

No one wants gasol! Bynum to Philly is a great move. If he doesn’t resign, they get more money off the books and stink enough to get a solid lottery pick. I think Bynum is the treasure in this whole
Deal

This looks like a bad deal for the Lakers. Both bigs? And another undersized PF that doesn’t rebound? With a big contract? Psssh…this would seem to be a step backward then to put us over the top.

ORL is getting robbed if that’s it. WTF won’t they just take Bynum then? At the end of the day it just looks like they have an older Gasol instead of next best center in the league (or best) in Bynum, no draft picks, and no one to unload Turkey or J Rich on.

Philly looks like the clear cut winner here in all this.

DEN, welcome your 4th SF on the team that could start on most other teams. Stockpiling wings like bar food.

Makes no sense for the Magic…Afflalo is a nice piece but Gasol is on a big contract and on the downside of his career…They don’t unload Richardson or Turkoglu, which was their main goal in trading Howard plus they’ll get picks which will most likely be towards the end of round 1 and will not help them draft good young talent…Also doesn’t make sense for the Lakers…You unload both bigs for a headcase coming off of back surgery and a high volume shooter in Al Harrington? They would be better off sticking with what they have now…Would be great for the 76ers and also the Nuggets but not so much for the main teams involved

Paul, you do not have your facts straight in regards to Sixers. Bynum will not be a rental, will not leave a max deal and go elsewhere. As well the Sixers have not
Had better offers than the 2nd best center in league. Iggy has a player option after this season. No guarantee he would exercise it (of course 99% that he would). If you are the Sixers you are making out huge in the deal. However, I would be open to trade some young pieces and keep iggy but that doesn’t look possible at this point.

The Heat won a title with freakin Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem at center. The LAKERS got bounced the last two years with Bynum AND Pau. The NBA is a different league now. Athleticism, speed and quickness wins, not plodding big men. I love both Pau and Bynum but D12 is far better than Bynum is. Once he gets here the doubters will see exactly what I mean. He took a very average Magic team to the Finals for goodness sakes!! What the heck do you think he can do with Kobe, Nash, etc.?!…………..The players in the deal have just been announced and Pau is NOT included!! Pau, Kobe, Nash, Artest and D12!!! With Jamison, Jordan Hill, Blake, Ebanks and ? off the bench!! The LAKERS are positioned to hang banner number 17!!!! Thank you Buss family and Mitch!! THE LAKERS RULE!!!!!!!!!